Moving Toward the Mountain
Neil Gaiman once told a graduating class to imagine their career as a mountain in the distance. With every opportunity, ask yourself: does this move me toward the mountain or away from it?
I’ve been circling my mountain for years, getting closer but never quite climbing. The shape has become clearer recently. I want to help people tell their stories authentically, whether through photography, writing, or the intersection of both. I want to create work that helps others see themselves more clearly.
The mountain is visible now. The problem is focus.
I scatter my energy like seeds in the wind. A photography project here, a writing assignment there, consulting work that pays bills but doesn’t build anything lasting. In his book “Indistractable” Nir Eyal calls this the “distraction trap.” We mistake motion for progress, busyness for productivity.
The financial inconsistency keeps me reactive instead of strategic. I take work that’s available rather than work that compounds. Each small victory feels significant in the moment but doesn’t accumulate into something substantial.
What I’m learning is that moving toward the mountain requires saying no to paths that look easier but lead sideways. The clearer the destination becomes, the more disciplined the journey demands.
The mountain hasn’t moved. I just need to stop hiking in circles around it.